Characterization of bioaerosols in and around a landfill site in Delhi

• Published in: Aerobiologia 2021-09, Vol.37 (3), p.585-596
• Main Authors: Srivastava, Arun, Verma, Richa, Mehta, Dudun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abundance; Allergology; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Autumn; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental Health; Genera; Landfill; Monsoons; Original Paper; Plant Pathology; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Sampling; Summer; Wind; Winter
• ISSN: 0393-5965; 1573-3025
• DOI: 10.1007/s10453-021-09711-w

The present study was carried out to estimate the spatiotemporal variation of fungal bioaerosols, in and around a landfill site in Delhi. The sites were deep in the landfill to nearby residential areas. Fungal bioaerosol sampling was done with the help of Anderson six stage viable cascade impactor on monthly basis for one year from June 2015 to May 2016 at seven different sites in and around the landfill site. The entire sampling period was classified in five different seasons, viz., winter, spring, summer, monsoon and autumn, characteristic of Delhi. It was observed in monsoon season concentration was maximum at most of the sites while lowest during autumn season. Contrary to this, it was also found that concentrations of fine fraction of bioaerosols were significantly high even during autumn at sites deep in the landfill while low in the residential areas near landfill. As such no significant pattern was observed with the coarse fraction of fungal bioaerosols. Typical relations of fungal concentration with the meteorological parameters were also observed. It was noticed that concentration was directly related to temperature and wind speed while inversely related to humidity. Fine and coarse fractions of bioaerosols showed a very good and positive relationship with each other. Among the eight fungal genera identified from the samples of Okhla landfill sites, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Rhizopus were found in abundance at all the seven sites in all the five seasons. Alternaria and Fusarium were found in abundance in spring, summer and winter seasons whereas Cladosporium in autumn and winter. Aspergillus sps was present in all the five seasons.